Originally Posted by
bocastephen
Is it a good idea? Probably not - and I'm saying this as someone who would like to ride up front. If you really want to see how an airplane flies, try a $75 discovery flight at a Cessna Pilot Center - the experience will be even cooler, as you're the one who gets to fly the plane.
Not quite the same as sitting in a jump seat for approach and landing... (or an entire flight which I've done a few times on "heavy" cargo aircraft).
As a "not current" pilot ... the above isn't a bad idea. The Cessna 152 or 172 is simple to operate and it's a lot of fun.